Coheed And Cambria GOOD APOLLO I'M BURNING STAR IV VOLUME O

Ambition has never been a problem for Coheed & Cambria, but with GOOD APOLLO, I'M BURNING STAR IV..., the upstate New York progressive-metal quartet has succeeded in topping its already-adventurous previous outings. While extending its sonic reach, however, Coheed & Cambria has also hit new heights of accessibility, often sounding like a kinder, gentler Mars Volta, with soaringly melodic moments peeking through billowing, dense clouds of driving guitars and breakneck rhythms.The group eases into GOOD APOLLO with a moody orchestral opening ("Keeping the Blade") and a deceptively benevolent acoustic track ("Always & Never"), before launching into the blisteringly heavy "Welcome Home." As always, frontman Claudio Sanchez carries the dynamic songs, belting out strangely narrative lyrics in his high, clear voice. Although Coheed & Cambria has been loosely categorized as an "emo" band, here the ensemble fully outgrows that tag, joining an elite company of inventive metal acts